Israel bars West Bank Palestinians from Al-Aqsa Mosque

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Palestinians in the West Bank have said Israeli authorities prevented them from entering Jerusalem for Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel recently set a requirement that those wishing to pray at the mosque must be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

Amid a vaccine shortage in the West Bank, jabs are currently limited to those with pre-existing chronic diseases and the elderly, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Military checkpoints in roads of the occupied West Bank leading to Jerusalem have witnessed active movement of Palestinians since early morning. However, authorities have only allowed a limited number of people to enter, sources told Anadolu Agency.

Nida Abdullah told Anadolu Agency that all her attempts to enter Jerusalem had been unsuccessful.

"Since dawn, I've been trying to enter Jerusalem, every time it's been prevented by the [Israeli] army for not having a permit," she said.

For many years, the prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque have been restricted to East Jerusalem residents, the Arab areas in Israel and a limited number of West Bank Palestinians who obtain special permits, while the residents of the Gaza Strip are denied access altogther.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat